5 greatest comebacks in international cricket

3. Bevan turns it on (Australia v/s West Indies, Sydney, January 1996)

Michael Bevan of Australia celebrates

Australia always seem to find an answer to the question of having a reliable batsman who can finish games without a fuss. In recent times, it had been Michael Hussey who held the baton – a charge that was passed down to him by another Aussie legend who specialized in the art of close finishes: Michael Bevan.

Paul Reiffel’s medium-pacers had enabled the Kangaroos to restrict the West Indies to 172, with Carl Hooper scoring an unbeaten 93 after his side were precariously placed at 54/5. The game had been reduced to 43 overs a side after nearly two hours were lost due to incessant rain. Shane Warne also turned on the magic to trouble the Calypso kings further, taking three wickets while supporting Reiffel’s efforts.

One would have thought that such a measly total would be a stroll in the park for the Aussies. Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose, however, wreaked havoc with their unplayable deliveries, reducing the home team to 38/6 and then to 74/7.

Game over? Not quite. For Bevan strode in and proceeded to play an innings that was remarkably unremarkable. Focusing on placing the ball into the gaps and running the ones and twos, he slowly but surely chiselled away at the target. With Reiffel’s support, the score rose to 157 before the former fell to Phil Simmons.

But a patient Bevan, sweating profusely but refusing to throw in the towel, scored the remaining six runs in the company of ‘professional tailender’ Glenn McGrath, winning the game for his side and remaining undefeated on 78. This led Australians to tag him as the world’s finest limited-overs batsman.